hamfist

[quote name='thebassman' timestamp='1389307601' post='2332795'] you have to walk backwards. [/quote] I tend to walk forwards, wheeling it in front of me. Having a single handle in the middle at the top rear of the cab would certainly be ideal though.

If the "hamfisted shop gonk" has a boss, I would go straight to them and show him/her the bass. I would hope you would get some sort of reparation for such an awful job.

The feature set of the RH450 is still incredible. I still can't believe they limited it so much as an amp by giving it such a natural top end roll-off. It makes it great for only a sub-set of tones. Anyone wanting a sparkling top end will be sorely disappointed. You can compensate to a certain degree with the controls, but can only go so far. Still a great amp if you don't want that though.

I'm glad this thread didn't go down the frivolous and ridiculous route.

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1389180304' post='2330887'] OK - I'll give that a look. I'm just concerned about which oil will dry properly at this time of year. I've used Tung oil before, but doubt that would work well in the winter. G. [/quote] The Colron Danish Oil will dry fully in 6 hours (indoors temps). 3 coats, and then wax (if you want) and it's done. It's my current magic formula for a great, and really easy, natural wood finish.

Colron Danish Oil from B&Q. Great stuff, and really, really easy to work with. Followed up with Briwax if you want a rather more satin feel. Again, Briwax is amazing stuff and dries to an incredibly hard finish (for wax).

Schecters have always been a bit unloved on the used market in the UK. Not so in the US I believe. The whole used bass market is in the doldrums at the moment though, apart from maybe a few niche items, like JV's. A year or so ago it would have been absurd thinking that you could pick up a nice used Warwick Streamer LX for £550, or an American Precision for £450 (both are current or recent deals on this site). But that's just how things are at the moment.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1389034524' post='2329126'] I do like the colour. [/quote] Thanks ! I initially wanted to do it in a very light blue, but couldn't get the right colour in the type of paint that I wanted. But they had this green shade available and I'm really pleased with how it came out. It's turned out pretty hard-wearing so far too.

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1389038847' post='2329210'] Damn, I'd nearly made my mind up. [/quote] Lol. Yes, that one would make my shortlist too, if I was looking !

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1389028912' post='2329026'] [/quote] Now please don't get me wrong and, yes, those are very similar pickups but the positioning of the bridge pickup will make it sound a hell of a lot different to a humbucker tucked right up against the P pickup, which is actually my point. Yes, there are a number of basses around with a MM or humbucker somewhere in the bridge position and a P pickup somewhere around the neck. BUT ... you can only get them very close to the Fender and MM sweetspots IF you literally abutt them right up to each other. If you have space in between the pickups they won't necessarily sound cr@p but they will sound significantly different to a Fender P and a MM Stingray.

[quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1389020124' post='2328841'] Cool man. That's a real bonus that you've found what really works for you. It's also good that you've got the confidence to mod your basses to suit your needs, as those are such unusual placements. I'd be happy enough with a single bridge positioned (as per Sandberg position) humbucker that switched between parallel and series. Volume and tone controls on that bad boy and I'd be covered for the sounds I want. BTW, I really like what you've done to that other Thunder ... very nice indeed. [/quote] Thanks Fionn. And yes I am aware that my preferences are very much my individual ones, that will not suit many, many other folks. However, I think there's a little bit of all of us which thinks that everyone else really should be like us though ! Out of interest what types and styles of music do you play and get the sounds you want all out of a bridge pickup ?

Unless you are very loud and silly, or boost your bass massively, things should be fine. As always, listen to your cabs at high volume. If they start complaining (farting, buzzing, crackling, distorting), back it down a bit. The Shuttle 9.2 has enough power to blow most cabs at very high output, with a lot of low frequencies and very dynamic playing. Just gotta be sensible.

[quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1388996987' post='2328451'] I would doubt very much that Sandberg place their pickups where they do for cosmetic reasons. They position their bridge pickups closer to the traditional Jazz bridge pickup position which surely increases the tonal variables. There is no best option as "Useful tones" are entirely subjective to the player. Personally speaking, I wouldn't have a bass that didn't have a pickup in the tight and honky zone. That's the pickup on which I play most of the time. I agree that tonal options are good though. I just prefer distance between the pickups, different positions, different string resonance, different pickup types, different sounds, blend to suit, bobs yer uncle. [/quote] I hear where you're coming from Fionn and, yes, I'm sure Sandberg's pickup placement is not just for cosmesis. But I suspect cosmetic "normality" is definitely a consideration for virtually all manufacturers, as the instrument-buying public is a very traditional lot, and not many will try out something very different. Players "expect" to have pickups near certain Fender and Musicman "norms". Manufacturers will probably lose sales if they differ too much from them (and yes I'm sure there are lots of niche market manufacturers who do try different things, but their overall sales will probably be low). It seems to be conventional "wisdom" that pickups placed a decent way apart gives the best variety of tones. Not my experience though. The wider the gap, the bigger the mid-scoop when blended is my experience. I know we're all looking for different tones but for rock players who tend to focus on the Precision and Stingray sounds, I reckon my pickup positioning is perfect. And, as I mentioned before, the blended tones are surprisingly excellent too.

FOr me, the distance from the bridge is critical for a bridge pickup. It only takes a few mms too close for a pickup to become rather uselessly thin and/or honky for my needs. The MM sweetspot is as far as I want to go bridgeward. I suspect that manufacturers like Sandberg position their bridge humbucker where it is for mainly cosmetic reasons. The positioning I have shown in the OP may look cumbersome as we are not used to it, but for a variety of useful tones it is way ahead IMO.

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1388960275' post='2328253'] So far the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 is looking favourite. [/quote] The Shuttle 6.0 is known for having rather a "light" bottom end, as Genz filtered off rather too much in the way of low frequencies. THe 6.2 remedies this completely. I can thoroughly recommend the GK MB500. I have owned a shedload of amps and the MB is loud, clear, articulate and reliable. I'm near Southampton if you're anywhere nearby and want to try one out with your cab.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1388942341' post='2327890'] Should be totally hum free if put together well, unlike a PJ combination. [/quote] Correct.

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1388584413' post='2323632'] my re-finished Quantum now with added emg goodness [URL=http://s80.photobucket.com/user/jeffhop/media/SNV80467_zps1f1dcf61.jpg.html][IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/jeffhop/SNV80467_zps1f1dcf61.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [/quote] Very nice. Westones plus EMGs are a great mix IMO. Anyway, here's the (probable) finish of a recent build of mine. It's an '86 Thunder 1A body and an '83 neck, body refinished in a peppermint green. I routed it for an additional MM pickup in the MM sweetspot (pushes the P pickup a few mm's towards the neck). Oh, and a natty MM-type pickguard I made up. CUstom pre-amp, 3 band with parametric mids. It's a beast ! [url=http://www.ephotobay.com/share/green-w-body.html][/url] [url=http://www.ephotobay.com/share/green-w-full-body.html][/url]

If you've got a string height of 2mm at the 12th fret and are playing hard, then you have got as good as it's possible to get IMO. Nothing to worry about. I never measure relief. Every neck and player technique is slightly different and there is no "optimal" measurement IMO. Stop worrying and enjoy your beautifully set up P !

Yup, defo a bass. Probably a four string. It's hard to tell from the photo angle but if the two halves of the neck pickup cutouts are the same size then it's for a 4 string. As Jezzaboy says about necks, it'll be just a question of measuring the neck pocket and finding something that fits, and is also the right scale length. It's not really a job for a beginner, to be honest.

Thanks for all your comments guys. Maude's suggestion about fitting 5 pickups sounds interesting, but I think it would look disgusting ! For me , there's nothing a mudbucker or Jazz pickups could offer me sonically that I'd want. All my taste is fulfilled with the MM/P.

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1388785420' post='2326152'] union jack in black/beige/white? [/quote] If you make the blank for me Andy, I will cut it and fit it ! Deal ?